I know PBUH and SAW have different meanings, but I am particularly interested in when Muslims apply each phrase. To whom do we add the suffix SAW? partially addresses my question, and Whence came PBUH? askes primarily about the translation of the PBUH phrase, and Why do Muslims add PBUH? only addresses the generic purpose of the phrase. My question is: are there specific guidelines for when to use which phrase for which prophets, where are those guidelines if there are any, and what is the documented history of these guidelines?
I am interested in if any hadiths (or Quran) mention these phrases specifically, when were the first Muslims to use either of these phrases, and where is it documented? It seems Muslims "randomly" (as in different Muslims choose a different phrase to apply to various prophets) choose a phrase, such as PBUH, SAW, SAWW, SAWS and use one of them and stick with it. One of the aforementioned answers suggests that SAW or SAWW is exclusive to Muhammad and that PBUH should be used for the other prophets. What is the basis for this? I don't see this strictly in practice. It seems once a month (exaggeration) I learn a "new version" of this or a different phrase applied to one of the prophets. Did Muslims do this in the day of Muhammad? What is the first recorded mention of either PBUH or SAW being applied to the prophets?